| 
           Debt and Debt-Related Parties - Senior Notes (Details) (Sabine Pass LNG, LP, Senior Notes, USD $) 
        In Millions, unless otherwise specified  | 
        3 Months Ended | 6 Months Ended | 12 Months Ended | 1 Months Ended | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 
           Mar. 31, 2012 
         | 
        
           Jun. 30, 2012 
         | 
        
           Jun. 30, 2011 
         | 
        
           Dec. 31, 2011
 
          Rate 
         | 
        
           Nov. 30, 2006 
         | 
        
           Nov. 30, 2006
 
          2013 Senior Notes 
         | 
        
           Sep. 30, 2008
 
          2016 Senior Notes [Member] 
         | 
        
           Nov. 30, 2006
 
          2016 Senior Notes [Member] 
         | 
      |
| Debt Instrument [Line Items] | ||||||||
| Principal amount of debt | $ 2,032.0 | $ 550.0 | $ 1,482.0 | |||||
| Debt instrument interest rate, stated percentage | 7.25% | 7.50% | ||||||
| Additional amount of debt issued during period | 183.5 | |||||||
| Percentage of debt principal that could be redeemed (percent) | 100.00% | |||||||
| Percentage of debt principal (percent) | 1.00% | |||||||
| Basis spread on debt instrument variable rate (percent) | 0.50% | |||||||
| Deposit requirement on debt instrument (percent) | 16.667% | |||||||
| Semi-annual interest payment | 82.4 | |||||||
| Fixed charge coverage ratio | 2 | |||||||
| Distributions made during period | $ 182.9 | $ 231.7 | ||||||
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Debt Instrument, Deposit Requirement, Percentage No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Debt Instrument, Fixed Charge, Coverage Ratio No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Percentage of debt principal No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Redemption of Debt Instrument, Percentage No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          The percentage points added to the reference rate to compute the variable rate on the debt instrument. No definition available. 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          The stated principal amount of the debt instrument at time of issuance, which may vary from the carrying amount because of unamortized premium or discount. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Increase for additional borrowings on the debt instrument during the period. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Interest rate stated in the contractual debt agreement. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Details 
          
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          Amount of the required periodic payments applied to interest. Reference 1: http://www.xbrl.org/2003/role/presentationRef 
  | 
        
| X | ||||||||||
| 
             
- Definition 
          The amount of cash distributions paid to a common shareholder or unit-holder by a LLC or LP. No definition available. 
  |